Addis Ababa Crazy intersection Traffic without traffic signals

[Chaotix]

This is a video shot above Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It's a massive free-for-all traffic intersection. From what I gathered, you just drive until you almost hit somebody, wait for them to move, then speed off again.

[redler]

Believe it or not, there is some good logic behind this. In the UK they did some research which found that complex intersections actually had more accidents because drivers were confused with all the different signs, lines, lights, speed humps etc. So they tried something radical - they removed everything. Not a single thing to indicate what to do at the intersection. The result? Accidents dropped by a huge margin. People slowed right down and actually paid more attention to the cars around them rather than the distractions and everybody gave way and the traffic still flowed.

Not sure if the drop lasted though lol...

[Superduper67]

That works only because of low traffic density.
Look what happens when nobody follows the rules in a high-density traffic:





BTW: In "normal countries" you still have to yield to right-hand traffic (or left in UK). Even in US they have that rule in the books (almost killed by the over use of 4-way stop signs).

[awkland]

There is always the odd few are going to bend the rules.